Fresh ideas for social housing

Homelessness Ends Here

Are you all planning to attend a Jane’s Walk this year? I hope so. They are a marvellous opportunity to learn more about the city and how it works.

I am leading my own walk this year. It’s called Homelessness Ends Here. It’s a look at the costs of homelessness — personal and public — and solutions developed over the past 30 years: Toronto’s Homes First pioneers (30 years before Housing First became a buzzword!); the transformation of a hotel into permanent homes, a shelter into transitional housing, and another shelter into a multi-level response to an aging homeless population; a TCHC turnaround; new hope for veterans; and one of the very few deeply affordable housing developments created under new funding programs.

We’ll also have a chance to reflect on some of the questions for the next 30 years: gentrification; the threats to rooming houses; the future of advocacy; the opportunity created by driverless cars; and the power of beauty.

The walk begins this Saturday, May 7th, 10 am at the Toronto Homeless Memorial, Trinity Square, behind the Eaton Centre. It would be lovely to see you there.

Just quick note to say thank you for your work! Even though I am in Halifax, I am inspired by what you are doing. The Jane’s walk is so well presented that i can learn a lot without being there – but I wish I could be there, and wish you all a fabulous walk.